Top 5 Features Defect Tracking Tools Must Have
By Ray Parker
Gone are the days when software testers used Excel sheets to record any defects in software development. Defects keep occurring in software every now and then, but it is necessary to record them in the system. This helps in resolving the issue according to priority level. There are different defect tracking tools that are used to record and resolve defects.
All you need to know about a defect tracking tool
A defect tracking tool is used in a defect management system, where each bug/defect is recorded in a systematic manner. These defects are assigned to different members of the development team, and rectified according to preference. Progress regarding each defect is update so that anyone can view the status of each bug in the system. When a bug pops-up in the system, it is the job of defect tracking tool to detect, record and rectify it. It is often observed that not all issues are bugs, but all bugs are issues. And a single bug can cause a lot of issues in the application.
Top 5 features of a defect tracking tool
1.Easy Access
When talking about an effective defect tracking tool, it should be easily accessible from anywhere and any device in the world. A web-based tool allows any user to access the tool from any location, at any hour of the day.
2.Multiple Platforms
Similar to being accessible from any location, users should be able to submit defects from any platform, be it e-mail, excel sheet or website. Users usually do not have much time to convert their files and then record into the defect management system. This feature makes the perfect defect tracking tool for any development teams.
3.Workflow
Each bug is different and a bug tracking tool must support customization of workflow, so that the users can easily manage defects. Avoiding bugs is inevitable, but testers can ensure that they are minimized as much as possible.
4.Integration
Software testing requires different tools which means they should be integrated with issue tracking tools, so that all flow of information is shared across different platforms.
5.Creation of Desktop
Testers should get a snapshot of all the defects appearing in a defect management system. Which means that dashboard is an essential feature of the issue tracking tool without which it may seem empty and less effective. Thus, we consider it to be one of the most important features of a tool for software development teams.
Conclusion
With hundreds of bugs appearing in a defect management system, the only thing that software testers benefit from, are defect tracking tools. These tools are designed to make quality assurance top priority and help software testing companies achieve their goals. When choosing an effective defect tracking tool, it is important to keep in view the above features are present in the tools. It makes quality assurance easier for development teams, and also reduces the number of bugs in an application.
Author Bio:
Ray Parker is a senior marketing consultant with a knack for writing about the latest news in tech, quality assurance, software development and travel. With a decade of experience working in the tech industry, Ray now dabbles out of his New York office.